Invitation to the Needy

1“Come, everyone who is thirsty—

come to the waters;

and who is without silver unto him—

let them come, buy, and let them come and eat,

and buy without silver and without price,

wine and milk.

2Why do you⁺ weigh out silver for what is not bread,

and your⁺ wages for what is not satisfaction?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

and let your⁺ soul delight in the richness.

3Incline your⁺ ear and come to Me!

Listen, that your⁺ soul with you⁺ may live;

and I will make a covenant forever,

the loving devotion promised to David.†

4Behold, as a witness to the nations I have placed him,

a leader and commander of the peoples.

5Behold, you will call on a nation you do not know,

and a nation you do not know will run to you,

on account of YHWH your God and the Holy One of Israel,

for He has glorified you.”

6Seek YHWH while He may be found,

call upon Him while He is near.

7Let the wicked one forsake his way,

and the man of iniquity his thoughts;

and let him return to YHWH,

and He will have compassion on him,

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8“For My thoughts are not your⁺ thoughts,

and your⁺ ways are not My ways,”

a declaration of YHWH.

9“For the heavens are higher than the earth;

so My ways are higher than your⁺ ways,

and My thoughts than your⁺ thoughts.

10For as the rain comes down—and the snow—from the heavens,

and from there it does not return until it has quenched the earth

and made it bring forth and sprout,

that it may give seed to the one sowing and bread to the one eating,

11so is My word that goes forth from My mouth:

It will not return to Me empty

until it has done that which I delight,

and it will prosper for that which I send it.

12For with joy you⁺ will go forth,

and with peace you⁺ will be led;

the mountains and the hills will break forth before you⁺ with singing,

and all the trees of the field will clap the hand.

13In place of the thornbush the cypress,† will come up,

and in place of the nettles the myrtle tree will come up;

and it will be for YHWH as a name,

as a sign forever that will not be cut off.”